Restraining device.



D. P. WALKER.

RESTRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21,1913. RENEWED DEC. 12,1914. 1,146,376.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

[NVENTOR WITNESSES Clx fl COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH NGTDN. D. c.

D. P. WALKER.

RESTRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21,1913. RENEWED DEC. 12,1914- Patented July 13, 1915 Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH C0" WASHING 0, ,c

rnvrran s'ra rns manna canton.

DANIEL 1. WALKER, or wn rnnnoo, 10m, A's sIGNon Tb H N-er o. BERNBROCR AND LOUIS FRANK, BOTH or wATEnLoo, IOWA.

nns'rnamme DEVICE.

Application filed Ihebruary 21, 1913, Serial No. 749,883.

To'all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL P. WALKER, -t citizen of the United States, residing at Waterloo, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Restraining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the employment of certain mechanical means to hold or restrain forward movement of horses, when desired, thus obviating the danger of the latter running away, and the consequent breakage of the vehicle.

In providing a device of this character, means have been employed to facilitate the attachment of the same to an ordinary wagon axle, and means are also provided whereby the device may be connected with the wheel of the vehicle. Therefore, when the wheel is revolved, the device will consequently be rotated in a reverse direction thereto.

The elements of simplicity and durability have been taken duly into consideration, and a careful consideration of the drawing will disclose that the device is so reinforced as to guard against breakage of any parts.

The provision of this device enables the driver of the vehicle to leave the same with perfect assurance that the horse will not run away.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention relates to such details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout th several views, and in which t Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device constructed in accordance with my invention illustrating the application thereof; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the bearing showing the same in connection with one end of the restraining shaft, the latter be ing shown in fragmentary elevation; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the winding drum employed in the present invention; Fig. 4: is an end elevation of bearing blocks used in the present invention illustrating the application thereof and showing the same in Patented July 13, 1915.

Renewed December 12, 1914. Serial No. 876,929.

connection with the shaft operating lever, the latter being shown in elevation and in connection with the operating chain; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the retaining plate carried by the vehicle for retaining the operating chain, which holds the shaft in engagement with the wheel; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the bearing blocks which supports one end of the operating shafts.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates an axle of the usual form, the same being reduced at one end, as shown, for reception of a hub element 11. The hub, being of the usual form, has projecting therefrom a multiplicity of radiating spoke elements 12, which of course have engagement with a. rim portion, not shown.

In carrying my invention into practice, I desire to place the same about the underside of the aXle, and provide means whereby the rotation of the wheel will be imparted directly thereto, it being appreciated that the attachment may move out of engagement with the wheel when desired.

With view of providing means for imparting a rotary movement to certain portions of my attachment, I have shown the hub 11 provided with a reduced portion 13 which receives a gear wheel 14:, the latter being held rigid thereon through the cooperation of tongues 15 and securing elements 16, as shown.

A pair of U-shaped brackets 17 and 18 are provided, the opposite ends of which are reduced as indicated at 19 and 20 which are adapted for engagement with nuts 21. Each of said U-shaped brackets is adapted for engagement over the vehicle axle 10, said bracket 18 being engaged with a supporting element 22, the latter being provided with feet on the one end thereof for engagement with the reduced ends 20 of said brackets. Another and smaller bracket 25 is further employed, the latter being of substantially the same shape as the bracket 22. outstanding portions 26 being provided upon the extremities thereof, as clearly illustrated. The last-mentioned bracket has engagement with the reduced portions 19 of the bracket 17, and is preferably placed in alinement with the bracket 22-. Further, a shaft 27 is employed, the extremities of which carry a gear wheel and ball members 28 and 29, respectively, for engagement with such mechanism, as will be presently mentioned. The ball member 29 is received within the bearing members 30, or rather the substantially semi-circular recesses 31. provided therein, a slight oscillatory movement being allowed the shaft 27, by means of the cut out portions 32, as illustrated. The bearing members 30 are spaced from the upper and lower faces of the bracket 22 through the medium of the spacing members 33, which are of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6.

The shaft 27 extends through the bracket 25, or rather the bearing members 34, which are carried thereby, the gear wheel 28 being in vertical alinement with the other gear wheel carried upon the hub of the supporting wheel. The bearing blocks 34, be ing in slidable engagement with the bracket 25, allow one end of the shaft to be moved vertically, consequently allowing the gear wheel 28 to be thrown into or drawn out of engagement with the gear wheel 14.

A drum 35 is revolubly mounted on the shaft 27, having arranged on each side thereof a ratchet wheel 36, each of the latter being fixedly secured thereto. Pivotally mounted on each side of the drum 35 and adapted for engagement with the ratchet wheels 36, are pawls 37 which are normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheels through the medium of a coil spring 38, allowing for the free rotation of the drum on the shaft 27 in one direction, and causing the shaft to be rotated with the drum, when motion is imparted in an opposite direction so as to wind the hitching strap 39 which is associated therewith, around the periphery thereof.

In practice, one end of the hitching strap is attached to the bridle of the horse, and upon forward movement of the vehicle, the strap will be wound upon the drum in such manner as to effectually restrain the horse from further forward movement. I have provided means for facilitating the manipulation of the device in order that the gear wheel 28 may be operated easily and quickly at the desire of the operator. With this in view, I have associated with one of the bearing blocks 34 a transverse member 40, which is fast thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the transverse member carrying a chain element 41 having interposed therein a coil spring 42, as illustrated. Each of the bearing blocks 34 is preferably of a rectangular configuration having portions of the opposite ends thereof out out so as to provide recesses which are engaged with the member 40, and are adapted to support the spherical end 29 of the operating shaft 27. The coil spring is employed in order to provide a suitable degree of elasticity within the chain in order that the device may be operated easily and quickly without danger of stripping the teeth on the respective cog wheels. Further, the chain is provided with a ball member 43, which is disposed in spaced apart relation with the coil spring 42, and designed to provide a supporting element for holding the guide wheels in mesh with each other. A second ball member 44 comparatively larger than the other is also provided upon the chain 41 in order to prevent dislodgment thereof from a bracket carried on the body of the vehicle. The bracket mentioned consists of a body portion 45, provided with spaced apart openings 46 and 47, the latter being comparatively smaller than the former, in order to prevent movement of the ball member 43 therethrough. A slot 43 connects the openings 46 and 47, respectively, and provides means whereby the chain 41 may be moved from one opening into the other when desired. The opening .46 is of less diameter than that which limits the movement of the ball member 44, consequently normally holding the chain in the position, illustrated in Fig. 1.

in the operation of my invention, the device is normally earried upon the vehicle in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the chain being in the position shown in full lines therein. When it is desired to move the cog wheels into engagement with each other, the operator manipulates the chain element 41, drawing the ball member 43 through the opening 46 and allowing the chain to move through the slot 48 into the opening 47. When in this position, the reverse movement of the ball. member 43 will be prevented, consequently holding thegear wheel 28 in mesh with its complementary member. When the device is in this position, the operator may leave the vehicle knowing that the horse cannot run away, in view of the fact that the forward movement of the vehicle will, through the instrumentality of my improved device, restrain the horse to a material extent.

Such changes as are permissible by the subjoined claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a vehicle axle having a wheel mounted thereon, a rod carried by said axle, one end of which is adapted for engagement, at times, with said wheel, a means for engaging said rod with said wheel including a chain, one end of said chain being in engagement with said rod and the opposite end in engagement with the vehicle, elements of varying contours arranged on said chainfor engagement with said vehicle, a drum revolubly mounted on said rod, means associated With said drum for preventing movement of the latter in one direction, and means in connection With said drum for operating the same in the opposite direction.

2. The combination With a vehicle axle, a Wheel revolubly mounted on said axle, and a gear Wheel fixedly carried by the hub of said vehicle Wheel, of a revoluble rod arranged in parallel relation to said axle and having connection therewith, a gear Wheel arranged on the one end of said rod for engagement With the gear Wheel of said hub, a plate secured to the vehicle at a point above said vehicle axle, a chain extending from said plate to said rod for engaging, at times, said gear Wheels in mesh, a spring arranged approximately midway the ends in said chain, a pair of balls arranged in spaced apart relation on said chain, the one of said balls being of a diameter greater than that of the other, a drum rotatably mounted on said rod, a strap carried by said drum for operating the latter in one direction, a pawl and ratchet mechanism associated With said drum and said rod adapted to hold the same from movement in the opposite direction.

The combination With a vehicle axle, a Wheel revolubly mounted on said axle, and

a gear Wheel fixedly carried by the hub of said Wheel, of a revoluble rod arranged in parallelism to said axle and having connection therewith, a gear Wheel arranged on the one end of said rod and a ball arranged on the opposite end thereof, a pair of brackets depending from said vehicle axle and engaging with said rod, said rod being movably engaged With one of said brackets, a chain extending from said rod, a plate arranged on the vehicle above said axle, said plate being provided with a plurality of openings, said openings varying in size, a pair of balls carried in spaced apart relation on said chain, said balls being of various circumferential dimensions, for engagement, at times, with said plate, a spring interposed in said chain, a drum rotatably mounted on said rod, a strap carried by said drum for operating the latter in one direction, a

paivl and ratchet mechanism associated With said drum and said rod adapted to hold the same from movement in an opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL P. WALKER. Witnesses CHAS. W. RICE, AMos Woon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

